AS ALWAYS, RIGHT IN THE HUNT

As usual, Scott Atchison is in demand. He is having a good Spring, coming out of the bullpen for Boston, battling for one of the final spots on the Red Sox roster. It’s a position he has become familiar with since joining the organization in 2010. Since then, he has split his time between Fenway and McCoy. Atch, who turns 36 on March 29, is pleased with his showing thus far at jetBlue Park. “I’ve done OK this Spring. I was taken off the (40 man) roster, but that’s alright. I just try to come in and show them what I can do.”

Atchison is philosophical when asked what it’s like to have to grind it out, year after year for a position on a Major League roster. “You kind of get used to it. It’s what I expect. I know I have to come in and perform well and do my thing. Essentially, show them that I’m the same guy I’ve been the last couple of years. I don’t think about it too much wearing on me. Obviously, we all want to walk in knowing we have a job, but that’s not the case. It’s probably a little late in my career for that. Like i said, I just try to go with it, get myself ready for the season and try to make a team.”

Atchison is competing in front of new sets of eyes this year. Manager Bobby Valentine and pitching coach Bob McClure are new to the organization this year, but that doesn’t affect Atchison. “You always want to impress. Bobby has seen me pitch a little bit in Japan (for the Hanshin Tigers in 2008 and 2009) I kind of feel he knows me a little from there. The GM, Ben Cherington has been around, so there are people here who know what I can do, but anytime there are new people around, you want to impress them.”

Scott had a very good 2011 season in both Pawtucket and Boston. He went 6-2, 2.64 for the PawSox and 1-0 with a 3.26 ERA in 17 appearances for the Red Sox. He was familiar with the shenanigans that took place in the Sox clubhouse, and says it’s a new day. “I think everybody pretty much got it off their chest at the start of Spring. It’s done, it’s over and that’s the last we’re going to talk about it. Last season is over. It’s time to move on. There’s nothing we can do to fix that. Let’s move forward and try to get ourselves ready and have a World Series run.”

It was an eventful offseason for the former Texas Christian University star. He rehabbed from a sports hernia surgery and spent quality time with his wife Sarah and their daughter Callie. “It was a pretty quiet, normal winter. I spent time with the family. We got away a little bit. Pretty normal Winter.”

No matter where Scott Atchison winds up in 2012, you can count on solid pitching and leadership from a good guy.